Tag: herbal medicine
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Solomon’s Seal: The King of Herbs for Connective Tissue Problems
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum spp.) is a plant native to the Americas that most people just plant as an ornamental in their garden is by far one of my favorite medicinal herbs. Its unique, bone-shaped roots strengthen bones, marrow, and especially tendons. Note: I am an Herbalist, not a doctor. This post is not intended as…
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Dry Cough vs Wet Cough: An Herbal Approach
We’ve all dealt with it — a nagging cough from allergies, a virus that caught up with you, or a chronic condition like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. But not all coughs are the same. A wet cough requires a different strategy than a dry one, and choosing the right herbal approach starts with understanding that…
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Managing Migraines Naturally: A Holistic and Herbal Approach
Migraines are no joke–I know, I’ve had a few. But if you have chronic migraines, there’s something deeper at play inside your body. In the world of naturopathic medicine, we view a migraine not as a standalone disease, but as a “check engine light” for the body. It’s like your headache is screaming at you…
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Mucus Overload? You Need Ground Ivy
I’ll admit it—I didn’t even know what ground ivy was until about 7 years ago. I heard a podcast episode about it and immediately went in search of this diminutive plant because I heard that it was “better than Mucinex” for mucus overload in your sinuses. Boy, were they right! What is ground ivy? Ground…
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Foraging in Connecticut: Learn the Land Through Your Senses
Connecticut is home to a wide variety of wild edible plants and medicinal herbs year-round. In spring, look for stinging nettle, greenbriar shoots, and serviceberries. Summer brings elderflower, chanterelle mushrooms, and St. John’s Wort. Fall is ideal for rose hips, sassafras roots, and hickory nuts, while winter offers evergreen barks like wild cherry. With diverse…
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The Simple Herbal Tea That Finally Stopped My Heavy Bleeding
It sounds like an exaggeration, but I’m writing this from my desk with a profound sense of relief at the fact that one cup of red raspberry leaf infusion has managed to slow my bleeding down to a manageable level. It feels like this plant saved my life today. Warning: This post is going to…
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The Mushrooms Sent me Messages in the Forest
Yesterday’s workshop was WONDERFUL! There was no cell phone service for anyone in Northwest Connecticut, so our phones were neither a distraction nor help. I took a small group first on a foraging walk around this gorgeous farm land property, then after a lunch break we reconvened for a Forest Bathing therapy session in the…
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Is Oil of Oregano Really So Great?
If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you know what oregano is and you’ve probably eaten it before, even if you only recognize the flavor from the pizza you had last Friday night. What exactly IS “Oil of oregano” though? You’ve probably heard someone suggest you take it, but you don’t really understand why, right? First…
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Making Herbal Remedies for Fun and Profit
You’re watching videos about how “this herb does that” on social media every day. You’ve taken the step into making your own tinctures, teas, and infused oils. Maybe you’ve even tried putting together some salve or lotions. Are they working? Are you remembering to use what you made? Did they come out right? Or has…
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Why Red Clover is one of my favorite plants
Red Clover (Trifolium praetense) as you can see in the photo above, isn’t red. It’s purple. Crimson clover is red (and is super tasty if you can find it) and White clover is white with a slightly pink tinge. Red clover grows abundantly in my yard ever since I tossed some seeds on the ground…